The Cardinals are headed home after a 74-69 loss to Kentucky on Friday night, bringing to a close a three-year run that included a national title, back-to-back trips to the Final Four and two consecutive conference titles — in two different conferences, no less.

"How can any of us complain with the run we've been on? We've celebrated an awful lot these last three years," Louisville coach Rick Pitino said.

"It's the end of an era for us, for a lot of us," he said. "It's something we're certainly going to miss."

Pitino singled out Russ Smith, Luke Hancock and Stephan Van Treese, along with Montrezl Harrell, a sophomore who is likely to leave early for the NBA. He also mentioned Peyton Siva and Gorgui Dieng, key members of Louisville's title team last year.

"It's the end of an era," a somber Pitino said. "And I as a coach certainly appreciate all their efforts."

Asked if it might be the end for him, too, the 61-year-old brushed the question aside.

"I'm thinking about my players; I'm not thinking about myself," he said.

This loss, though, is sure to stay with Pitino for a while.

The Cardinals had a seven-point lead with 4:33 to play, but managed only three points the rest of the game. Smith gave away one possession with a turnover, causing Pitino to scream and stamp his foot, and Wayne Blackshear missed a free throw that would have tied the game at 70 with 14 seconds left.

Then, when Louisville got the ball back in the closing seconds, Smith launched a quick 3 that didn't even get close to the rim. Kentucky came up with the rebound, effectively ending the game.

"I came off the ball screen, and I automatically looked for Luke. And then I seen he was being face guarded by (Alex) Poythress," Smith said. "I tried to take a 3‑pointer to tie it up, and it just missed."

Smith and Pitino's relationship is famously complicated. The guard is supremely talented, able to make shots and plays that no one else could even imagine.

But he's also impulsive and unpredictable, and more than a little bit of Pitino's grey hair is a result of Smith's antics.

He chastised Smith repeatedly during the game — "Russ, you're hurting us!" he yelled after Smith ignored a wide-open Hancock for another bad miss — and the coach's criticisms of Louisville's poor free throws may as well have been directed right at Smith. Louisville was 13-of-23 at the line, with Smith going 4-of-10.

Smith also was 9-of-20 from the floor, and made just one of his seven attempts from 3-point range.

"Missing my free throws in the first half, but other than that, I gave it my all," Smith said. "Honestly, I just wish I would have hit my free throws in the first half and we would have come up with the win."

Instead, his college career is finished. So, too, Louisville's great run.

"What the seniors did for this program is good," freshman Terry Rozier said. "Back-to-back Final Fours and a national championship, they can't hang their heads too bad."

Florida Gators forward Will Yeguete (15) reacts during the second half in the semifinals against the UCLA Bruins in the south regional of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament at FedExForum.
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Wisconsin Badgers players celebrate after the semifinals of the west regional of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament against the Baylor Bears at Honda Center.
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Florida Gators forward Will Yeguete (15) blocks the shot of UCLA Bruins forward/center Tony Parker (23) during the second half in the semifinals of the south regional of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament at FedExForum.
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Wisconsin Badgers guard Ben Brust (1, right) drives to the basket against Baylor Bears guard Kenny Chery (1, left) during the second half in the semifinals of the west regional of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament at Honda Center.
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Arizona Wildcats forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (23) shoots the ball against San Diego State Aztecs forward Winston Shepard (13) during the first half in the semifinals of the west regional of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament at Honda Center.
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Wisconsin Badgers players celebrates against the Baylor Bears during the second half in the semifinals of the west regional of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament at Honda Center.
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Florida Gators guard Kasey Hill (0) passes against UCLA Bruins forward David Wear (12) during the first half in the semifinals of the south regional of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament at FedExForum.
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San Diego State Aztecs forward Winston Shepard (13) dribbles the ball against Arizona Wildcats guard Gabe York (1) during the first half in the semifinals of the west regional of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament at Honda Center.
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Arizona Wildcats guard T.J. McConnell (4) dribbles against San Diego State Aztecs guard Xavier Thames (2) during the second half in the semifinals of the west regional of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament at Honda Center.
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Dayton Flyers forward Devin Oliver (5) drives to the basket against Stanford Cardinal forward Josh Huestis (24) and forward/center John Gage (40) during the first half of the semifinals in the south regional of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament at FedExForum.
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San Diego State Aztecs forward Josh Davis (22) drives to the basket between Arizona Wildcats guard Nick Johnson (13), forward Aaron Gordon (11, second from left), and forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (23) during the first half in the semifinals of the west regional of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament at Honda Center.
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Baylor Bears forward Rico Gathers (2) dunks the ball against the Wisconsin Badgers during the second half in the semifinals of the west regional of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament at Honda Center.
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Arizona Wildcats forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (23) shoots the ball against San Diego State Aztecs forward Skylar Spencer (0) during the second half in the semifinals of the west regional of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament at Honda Center.
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Florida Gators guard Kasey Hill (0) passes against UCLA Bruins forward David Wear (12) during the first half in the semifinals of the south regional of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament at FedExForum.
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Dayton Flyers guard Jordan Sibert reacts after scoring against the Stanford Cardinal during the first half in the semifinals of the south regional of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament at FedExForum.
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San Diego State Aztecs forward Dwayne Polee II (5) shoots the ball against Arizona Wildcats guard Gabe York (1) during the first half in the semifinals of the west regional of the 2014 NCAA Mens Basketball Championship tournament at Honda Center.
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Florida Gators guard Kasey Hill (0) passes against UCLA Bruins forward David Wear (12) during the first half in the semifinals of the south regional of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament at FedExForum.
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San Diego State Aztecs forward Skylar Spencer (0), forward Dwayne Polee II (5), and guard Dakarai Allen (4) celebrate against the Arizona Wildcats during the first half in the semifinals of the west regional of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament at Honda Center.
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Baylor Bears head coach Scott Drew (left) argues with an official as forward Cory Jefferson (34) and guard Gary Franklin (4) look on during the second half in the semifinals of the west regional of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Honda Center.
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Dayton Flyers guard Khari Price (0) brings the ball up the court against Stanford Cardinal guard Chasson Randle (5) during the first half of the semifinals of the south regional of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament at FedExForum.
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Arizona Wildcats forward Aaron Gordon (11) dribbles against San Diego State Aztecs guard Xavier Thames (2) during the first half in the semifinals of the west regional of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament at Honda Center.
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Stanford Cardinal head coach Johnny Dawkins talks with his team during the first half of the semifinals against the Dayton Flyers during the south regional of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament at FedExForum.
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Wisconsin Badgers players huddle before the semifinals of the west regional of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament against the Baylor Bears at Honda Center.
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Florida Gators guard/forward DeVon Walker (right) runs out to the court prior to the semifinal game against the UCLA Bruins during the south regional of the 2014 NCAA Mens Basketball Championship tournament at FedExForum.
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Stanford Cardinal band performs prior to the first half of the semifinals of the south regional of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament against the Dayton Flyers at FedExForum.
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General view of Honda Center during the first half in the semifinals of the west regional of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship tournament between the Arizona Wildcats and the San Diego State Aztecs.
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